In this workshop you will practice introducing a friend in French. You will learn two ways to say who someone is, how to choose the right phrase for a friend or a more formal situation, and how to add one simple detail about the person. You will also practice understanding a short reply when someone introduces themselves back. All the French you need is in the recordings, so listen, repeat, and then try the tasks.
Two ways to introduce someone
The most common way to introduce a friend is with a short phrase that means 'I present to you.' In French, the word for 'you' changes depending on who you are talking to. When you speak to one friend or someone you know well, you use the informal form. You can hear this in «Je te présente mon ami Sam.». When you speak to someone you do not know well, someone older, or a group of people, you use the formal form. You can hear this in «Je vous présente mon ami Sam.». A third, very common option is shorter and neutral. It works in most everyday situations. You can hear it in «C'est mon ami Sam.». All three phrases can be followed by the person's name.
Adding a simple detail
After you introduce someone, you can add one short detail. A simple detail is where the person is from. For a male friend, you say the phrase in «Il est américain.». This means he is American. If your friend is female, the ending changes slightly, but the pattern is the same. You can also add where the person lives now. In «Il est américain. Il habite à Lyon maintenant.», the speaker says the friend is American and then adds that he lives in Lyon now. Notice that the two ideas are separate short sentences. Keep your details simple and use only words you have practiced.
Understanding a reply
When you introduce someone, the other person often replies. A common reply is a greeting and a name. You can hear this in «Enchanté, Sam. Moi, c'est Julie.». The person says 'Nice to meet you' and then gives their own name. Another common reply is a positive reaction and a welcome. You can hear this in «Ah, super ! Bienvenue à Lyon, Sam.». The person says 'Oh, great!' and then welcomes the friend to the city. When you listen, focus on the first word or two. Words like 'enchanté' and 'bienvenue' are easy to catch and tell you what kind of reply it is.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Je te présente mon ami Sam.
This is my friend Sam. (informal, to one person you know well)
zhuh tuh pray-zahnt mon ah-mee Sam
Je vous présente mon ami Sam.
This is my friend Sam. (formal or to a group)
zhuh voo pray-zahnt mon ah-mee Sam
C'est mon ami Sam.
This is my friend Sam. (neutral, common in speech)
say mon ah-mee Sam
Il est américain.
He is American. (for a male friend)
eel ay tah-may-ri-kan
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Salut, ça va ? Je te présente mon ami Sam.
Hi, how's it going? This is my friend Sam.Enchanté, Sam. Moi, c'est Julie.
Nice to meet you, Sam. I'm Julie.Il est américain. Il habite à Lyon maintenant.
He's American. He lives in Lyon now.Ah, super ! Bienvenue à Lyon, Sam.
Oh, great! Welcome to Lyon, Sam.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Introduce Sam to a friend
Imagine you are talking to a close friend. You want to introduce another friend named Sam. You will use the informal phrase from the recordings.
Your task: Say the informal introduction for Sam out loud. Then say the neutral shorter version. Repeat both until they feel comfortable. Check yourself against «Je te présente mon ami Sam.» and «C'est mon ami Sam.».
Listen and choose the right reply
You will hear a short reply after an introduction. The reply is in «Enchanté, Sam. Moi, c'est Julie.». Listen carefully to the first word.
Your task: Listen to «Enchanté, Sam. Moi, c'est Julie.» and decide: is the person saying 'nice to meet you' or 'welcome'? Then listen to «Ah, super ! Bienvenue à Lyon, Sam.» and decide the same thing. Say your answer out loud before you check.
Recall the full exchange
You will now practice the full short exchange. One person introduces Sam, and the other person replies. The introduction is in «Salut, ça va ? Je te présente mon ami Sam.», and the reply is in «Enchanté, Sam. Moi, c'est Julie.».
Your task: First, play both recordings and listen. Then say the introduction from «Salut, ça va ? Je te présente mon ami Sam.» out loud. Next, say the reply from «Enchanté, Sam. Moi, c'est Julie.» out loud. Finally, add the detail from «Il est américain. Il habite à Lyon maintenant.» after the introduction. Do this three times, switching roles each time.
Common questions
When should I use the informal phrase and when should I use the formal phrase?
Use the informal phrase from «Je te présente mon ami Sam.» when you speak to one friend, a family member, or someone you know well. Use the formal phrase from «Je vous présente mon ami Sam.» when you speak to someone you do not know well, someone older, a superior, or a group of people. The neutral phrase from «C'est mon ami Sam.» works in most everyday situations and is a safe choice when you are not sure.
How do I add a detail about my friend after introducing them?
Add one short sentence after the introduction. For a male friend, you can use the phrase from «Il est américain.» to say he is American. You can also add where he lives, as in «Il est américain. Il habite à Lyon maintenant.». Keep your detail simple and use only words you have practiced. If your friend is female, the ending of the nationality word changes slightly, but the pattern stays the same.
Sources and further reading
- french: introduce friends to each otherChecked September 2026
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